Anna Southerly, 60, said her sister did anything to help people.

“She had a heart of gold,” she said. “She’s taken care of Dustyn since he was a baby.”

Dustyn Reedy, Mary Jo’s 9-year-old grandson, also died in the fire.

Harper experienced and appreciated Mary Jo’s generosity, she said.

“She’s stood in for me before at work and with my family,” she said.

Sharon Knight, one of Mary Jo’s daughters, said she had similar memories of her mother’s generosity growing up.

“She was always there,” she said. “She was doing something for somebody. Even a stranger could ask, and if she could help, she would.”

Co-Worker Remembers Friend

Mary Jo was a hard worker who got along with the staff and customers, her co-workers said.

Jeri Grogg, 29, is the manager of the Subway on South Carlton Street where Mary Jo and her other daughter, Vicky, worked. Vicky also died in the fire.

“She worked as hard as she could,” Grogg said. “I would call Mary Jo up and she’d always say to me, ‘Honey, I’d do anything for you.’ I’ll always remember her saying that.”

Mary Jo came in to work on her days off, even though she closed the store most nights, Grogg said.

“She loved the people she worked with,” she said. Grogg added that the customers were another favorite part of her work.

“One regular customer — an older man — always comes in here and laughed with Vicky and would joke with Mary Jo about dating her because they were about the same age,” Grogg said.

Mary Jo and Vicky both worked at the restaurant for about a year. Vicky was a crew leader and had authority over her mother while at work, Grogg said.

“Mary Jo would always joke with her and tell Vicky she couldn’t tell her what to do at home even though she could here,” she said. “They were just so funny. We’re still expecting them to walk through the door and come to work and make us laugh.”

Like A Grandmother

Grogg said she will miss the way Mary Jo and Vicky joked, but she will especially miss how Mary Jo felt like a grandmother to her.

“She was always fussing and telling you how to do things,” Grogg said. “She would tell you things like how to pick up stuff or what to do.”

Anna Southerly said her three children loved Mary Jo.

“They’ve always called her ‘Poochie’ or ‘Pooch,’ ” she said. “The name always stayed with her.”

When Mary Jo wasn’t with friends or at work, she enjoyed dancing to music, visiting yard sales and traveling.

“Mom would go and take lessons,” Knight said of her mother’s love of county music and dancing.

Mary Jo often traveled to visit family and friends in the area.

“Mom and Vicky were always on the go,” Knight said. “It didn’t matter where — just anywhere.”

Harper said Mary Jo would go anywhere to help somebody.

“It didn’t matter who it was or where they were or what they needed. She was there and would help,” Harper said. “She would do anything for you, anything in the world.”

‘All Good For One Another’

McGaheysville House Fire Destroyed A Loving Young Family

By KELLY JASPER
Daily News-Record

Daily News-Record (Harrisonburg, VA)
May 27, 2004

Skyler Reedy’s laugh could make anyone smile. When his parents, Vicky Reedy and Michael Simmons, greeted the 6-month-old after work each evening, their smiles spoke for themselves. Their love for each other was evident, family and friends said.

Vicky, 35, Michael, 34, and their son Skyler died in a fire on Ernests Lane in McGaheysville early Friday morning.

Two others — Mary Jo Reedy, 58, and Dustyn Reedy, 9 — also died.

“You could see what love that family had for each other in their eyes,” said Junior Southerly, 40, Vicky’s cousin and one of two survivors of the fire. “They were all good for one another.”

A Natural Comedian

Vicky Reedy was a talker.

Sometimes her love of talking annoyed friends and sometimes it delayed the customers she waited on at the Subway on South Carlton Street. But friends said Vicky loved talking because she loved people.

“She’d get on your nerves she talked so much,” said Jeri Grogg, 29, a family friend and Vicky’s manager at Subway.

“She could have been a comedian for a living,” she said with a laugh. “Customers just loved it. It was like seeing a show while you were eating.”

Customers always got to see Vicky’s humorous side, Grogg said.

“It didn’t matter how long the line was, she was gonna talk to every single person who walked in that door,” she said.

Mary Anne Harper, 33, said Vicky’s generous attitude made her a great friend, co-worker and neighbor.

“Vicky was saying how she’d take my daughter up to stay with her,” she said. “She was like another mother to her.”

A Sister Remembers

Sharon Knight also has fond memories of her sister, the baby of the family. Even after the two grew up, they still spent time together.

“I’ll always remember the last time I saw her,” she said. “I was driving back from Subway Thursday from visiting Mom, and on the way home we passed Vicky on the road and she waved.”

Knight said the last time she saw Vicky, she was smiling.

Grogg said she and many customers will miss Vicky’s smile and cheerful attitude.

Vicky worked days and nights as a crew leader. Customer reaction to the fire was strong, Grogg said.

The restaurant plans to create a memorial for Vicky and Mary Jo. A can for donations sits near the cash register. The Red Cross also hopes to raise $24,000 to help the family pay for funeral expenses for the five people killed in the fire.

‘The Most Beautiful Boy’

Friends say Vicky loved talking about her son, Skyler, to her coworkers and anybody who would listen.

“He just got his second tooth in,” Grogg said. “She was gonna bring him in this weekend to show him around.”

Skyler was a favorite with everyone, not just the employees at Subway. Knight said his laugh always made her smile.

“Every time I called over there I could hear Skyler laughing in the background,” Knight said. “He was just the most beautiful boy.”

Unfortunately, Knight said, she didn’t get to see Skyler often.

“I wish I could have seen him more,” she said. “But I know he was in such good hands.”

The bond between Skyler and his parents was unique, Southerly said.

“When Mike walked into the room, little Skyler would just get so excited,” he said. “Mike just has this special gleam in his eyes. That really let me know he was a good dad.”

A Lot Of Love To Offer

Few men were more straightforward than Michael, his friends said.

“Pride never stood in his way,” Southerly said. “He was always man enough to admit what he had done wrong.”

Michael was looking forward to moving into his new home with Vicky and Skyler, Southerly said.

“There was a lot of love they had to offer, and they were excited to be a closer family having their own home,” he said.

Michael worked two jobs, one at a Rockingham County poultry farm and another doing painting and construction.

“He did what he could to take care of himself and his family. That’s the kinda guy he was,” Southerly said.

Megan Seabolt, 17, Michael’s niece, misses how he went out of his way to help those close to him.

“He once picked up my mom and took her to come visit me at school,” Seabolt said. “He did anything to help with the family. He was like my best friend.”

Betty Simmons, one of Michael’s six sisters, said her brother volunteered to help her when she needed it.

“I was once homeless,” she said. “It was so important to him to help. He didn’t even think about it.”

Last September, Michael divorced his wife of 16 years, Patricia Simmons, 30, of Franklin, W.Va. The couple had two children.

“He was a really good husband and he was a really good father,” Patricia Simmons said. “He got along with people really well.”

Patricia Simmons said Michael was well-liked and generous.

“He never knew the word ‘no,’” she said. “My brother would call him for help on his vehicle and Michael would drop everything to help.”

Brittany Simmons, Michael’s 8-year-old daughter, said she already misses her father.

“He was a good dad, and I loved him,” she said. “We used to play Barbie dolls together.”

Michael’s son, Wesley, 5, said he also missed playing cars and baby dolls with him.

“He used to let us climb up on his shoulders,” he said. “He was my daddy. I miss him.”